These alcohol trivia resources link to alcohol trivia web pages full of fun trivia. Discover lots of trivia to share with your family and friends!
But first, this isn’t trivial. In fact, it’s important for both health and safety. The total alcohol content of a standard serving of beer, wine, or spirits is the same. Specifically, it’s 0.6 of an ounce.
A standard drink is any of these.
- 12 ounce bottle or can of beer.
- 5 ounce glass of dinner wine.
- A shot (1.5 ounce) of spirits such as whiskey, rum, gin, etc.
Now on to the good stuff….
I. Alcoholic Beverages Trivia and Fun Facts (Ales to Zombies).
There is no worm in tequila. It’s in mezcal, a spirit beverage distilled from a different plant. And it’s not actually a worm, but a butterfly caterpillar.1
II. Beer trivia! Discover Fun Beer Trivia to Share with Friends.
One of Harvard College’s first buildings was a brewery. The college built it so that students would have a good supply of beer to drink in the dining hall.2
III. Liquor Trivia: Fun Trivia about Distilled Spirits (Whiskey, Rum, Vodka, Gin, Tequila, Bourbon, Rye, Etc.)
Abraham Lincoln sold liquor before becoming president. His liquor store license is dated 1833. It’s on display in the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History in Bardstown, Kentucky.3
IV. Wine Trivia: How Much Do You Know about Wine?
British wine isn’t the same thing as English wine. British wine is made from imported grape juice concentrate. On the other hand, English wine is made from grapes grown in England. And Welch wine is from Wales-grown grapes.4
V. Trivia about Alcohol and Drinking.
The body or lightness of whiskey is primarily determined by the size of the grain from which it is made. The larger the grain, the lighter the whiskey. For example, whiskey made from rye, with its small grain size, is bigger or fuller-bodied. On the other hand, whiskey made from corn, with its large grain size, is much lighter.5
VI. Alcohol Word Trivia: Fun with Alcohol Words and Letters.
What’s the difference between whiskey and whisky? (Other than one includes the letter “e.”) They both refer to alcohol distilled from grain. But whiskey is the usual spelling in the U.S., especially for beverages distilled in that country and Ireland. On the other hand, whisky is the spelling for Canadian and Scotch distilled alcohol.6
VII. Bar Trivia: Pubs, Taverns, Liquor Stores.
Some states and other jurisdictions in the US:
- Require that the inside of bars be visible from the outside. Others specifically prohibit that.
- Require that food be available wherever drinks are served. Other make that illegal.
- Require that anyone drinking stand at a bar. Others require that they be seated while drinking.7
VIII. Alcohol Facts in States across the U.S. (Trivia & Fun Facts)
Maryland and the District of Columbia decriminalized underage drinking. This makes consumption of alcohol by those under age 21 a civil rather than criminal offense. As a result, police must issue tickets rather than arrest offenders.
Thus, young adults under 21 no longer carry a criminal record for the rest of their lives.8
IX. Early Alcohol Trivia from Cavemen To Columbus (Alcohol Fun Facts).
The world’s oldest known recipe is for beer.9
X. World Drinking Trivia in Western & Non-Western Cultures.
Chicha is an alcohol beverage that people have made for thousands of years in Central and South America. The process begins with people chewing grain and spitting it into a vat. An enzyme in saliva helps change starch in the grain to sugar, which then ferments.10
XI. Prohibition Trivia: Fun Trivia about National Prohibition in the U.S.
Residents of some towns were absolutely convinced that alcohol caused all crime. Therefore, as Prohibition was about to begin, they sold their jails!11
XII. Repeal Trivia: Trivia about the Repeal of Federal Alcohol Prohibition.
Eight states never ratified the 21st Amendment.
- Georgia.
- Kansas.
- Louisiana.
- Nebraska.
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma.
- South Carolina (it specifically rejected Repeal).
- South Dakota.12
XIII. Prohibition Bootleggers: People and Trivia.
Most members of Congress publicly supported Prohibition and its enforcement. But most of them drank alcohol. Many relied on the best-known bootlegger in Congress. He was George Cassiday, “The Man in the Green Hat.”13 In fact, hypocrisy was rampant during Prohibition.X
XIV. Alcohol and the Body Trivia: 12 Surprising Fun Facts!
The human body creates alcohol constantly. It can’t live without making it. The process is called endogenous ethanol production. And people don’t wait until their 21st birthday to make their own alcohol.14
XV. Politicians and Alcohol Trivia: Fun Facts on Politics & Alcohol. 
Every delegate who signed the Declaration of Independence was an alcohol drinker.15
More Resources on Alcohol Trivia Resources
Readings
Downs, L. , and Weiss, D. So You Think Youre Good at Trivia. NY: Avery, 1995.
Eames, A. Secret. Beer Legends, Lore and Little-known Facts. Pownal, VT: Storey, 1995.
Button, R. and Oliver, M. Wine – 101 Truths, Myths and Legends. Luton, Eng: Andrews, 2013.
Horace, L. Trivia. Toronto: Horace, 2007. One of the best alcohol trivia books.
Newman, S. and Fittipaldi, H. 15,003 Answers: the Trivia Book. NY: Random, 2007.
Rosano, D. A Heady Collection of Wine Trivia. Board & Bench, 2016.
Worth, F. Worth, F. The Complete Super Trivia Book. BN Pub., 2012.
Footnotes for Alcohol Trivia Resources
1 Limon, E. Tequila. NY: Abbeville, 2009, p. 34.
2 Furnas, J. Life and Times of the Late Demon Rum. NY: Putnam’s, 1965, p. 20.
3 Museum details history of bourbon. Post-Gazette, April 23, 2007.
4 English Wine vs British Wine.
5 Ford, G. Ford’s ABCs of Wines, Brews, & Spirits. Seattle, WA: Ford, 1996, p. 146. One of the best alcohol trivia books.
6 Roueche, B. The Neutral Spirit. Boston: Little, Brown & Co., 1960, p. 84.
7 Heath, D. Drinking Occasions. Philadelphia: Brunner, 2000, p. 53.
8 Terrazas. A. Council amends drinking laws. The Hoya, Sept 25, 2004.
9 Katz, S. and Voigt, M., Bread and beer, Exped, 1987, 28, pp. 23-34.
10 Siegel, H., and Incardi, J. A Brief History of Alcohol. In: J. Incardi and K. McElrath (Eds.). The American Drug Scene. Los Angeles: Roxbury, 1995.
11 Anti-Saloon League of America Yearbook. Westerville, OH: Am Issue, 1920, p. 8.
12 Ratification of Constitutional Amendments.
14 Fermentation. The Columbia Encyclopedia. NY: Columbia U. Press, 6th edition, 2001.
15 Burns, E. The Spirit of America. Philadelphia: Temple U. Press, 2004, p. 182.